Shaft-tug



(NoModel.) Y

J. P. CREWS. SHAFT TUG.

` No. 555,484. y Patented Peb. 2.5, 1896.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

JEFFERSON PAINE OREWS, OF DENVER, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO A. H.CRAWFORD, OF LITTLETON, COLORADO.

f SHAFT-Tue.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 555,484, dated February25, 1896. Application lei. May 27, 1895. Serial No. 550,732. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JEFFERSON PAINE CREWS, a citizen of theUnitedStates, residing at Denver,in the county of Arapahoe and State ofColorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inShaft-Tugs; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in that class of shaft-loops whichare provided with rollers, so as to permit the thills or shafts to movefreely without undue friction and without chaiing the animal; and itsnovelty and advantages will be fully understood from the followingdescription and claim, when taken in connection with the annexeddrawings, in whichv Figure I is a view o f a horse with harness and myimprovements applied, showing a pair of shafts in position. Fig. 2 isan'edge view of my improved device with parts in section and showing ashaft in the loop. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken in a planeat right angles to Fig. 2 with the shaft removed, and Fig. 4 is aperspective view of the casting which receives the belly-band billet.

Referring by letter to said drawings, A indicates a gig-saddle, whichmay be of any ordinary or approved construction, and which forms no partof my invention, but is here shown for the purpose of illustrating theapplication of my improvements, 'and o, indicates a strap depending fromthe gig-saddle or pad-skirt for the attachment of the tug or shaft loop.

B indicates the shaft-loop. This loop is composed of an inner piece, b,of leather, and an outer piece, c, of similar material, secured togetherand looped, as shown, to receive the shaft C. This loop is provided witha keeper d to receive the end of a strap a, and said loop also carries abuckle e for the attachment of said strap in connecting the shaftloop tothe saddle.

D indicates a casting, which is of a form substantially as shown andcomprises two branches f, which are disposed in a forked manner andprovided at their ends with aligned holes g. This casting is alsoprovided with a central depending loop h, which is disposed in a planeat right angles to the loop e' formed by the two branches f. Thebranches f are placed on the inner side of the strap h, and the straps band c are perforated, as shown at j, which, together with the casting D,receives a transverse bolt-E, on which is j ournaled a roller F, whichmay be composed of wood, metal, glass, or other suitable material. Theroller is designed to furnish a bearing for the shaft O within the loopB, and it will be seen that by the construction described the casting D,which receives the belly-band billet, also serves very effectively instrengthening the bearings in the loop B for the roller, and that thebolt E serves as a shaft for the roller and also serves to effect astrong and durable pivotal connection between the loop B and the castingD. As will be readily observed, this pivotal connection of the loop Band casting D is highly desirable, inasmuch as it enables the spool orroller, loop B, and casting D to readily accommodate themselves to theposition and movements of the shaft or thill, and enables the saddle andbelly-band to move with respect to the spool and independent of eachother, and also prevents movement of the saddle from being transmittedto the belly-band or vice versa, and the friction and chaiing consequentupon such movements.

It will be observed that it is not necessary to make any specialprovision for attaching my improvements to a harness, as the loop can beattached to a new harness or such harness as is at present in use at avery small expense.

The bolt E is headed at one end and threaded at its opposite end whereit receives a nut lo or the like. By reason of this it will be seen thatwhen the loop B, of leather, is Worn out the parts may be readilydisconnected by removing the nut 7o and withdrawing the bolt and theoastingD. Roller F and bolt E, which are generally formed of metal, maythen be readily connected to a new loop B without the employment ofskilled labor, and may be used in conjunction with the new loop B in themanner described. In this way the usefulness of the greater portion ofmy improved IOO tug may be prolonged for an indefinite period of time.It Will be further observed that with the construction described theshaftbolt E and the roller E may be readily removed to permit of thembeing thoroughly lubricated7 which is frequently necessary.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- The herein-describedshaft-loop adapted to be connected with a saddle-strap and bellyband ofa harness and consisting essentially of the following instrumentalitiesin eombination viz: the leather loop B, having the aligned apertures j,in its branches and adapted to be connected with a saddlestrap, thecasting D, having the approximately U- shaped loop portion arrangedbetween the branehes of the loop l5, and provided with aligned aperturesin its branches and also having the depending loop h, for the eonnectionof a belly-baud, the bolt E,takin g through the apertures of the loop B,and casting I), and pivotally connecting the said loop and casting so asto permit them to move independent of each other and having a head atone end and threads at its opposite end, a removable nut mounted on thethreaded portion of the bolt so as to secure the same in position andthe roller F, loosely mounted on the bolt and adapted to form anantifrietionbearing for a shaft passed through the loop B, substantiallyas speeiied.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JEFFERSON PAINE CREWS. lVitnesses:

HARRY C. RIDDLE, Jos. L. Bonn.

